Robert "Red Robin" Johnston, Sr., 21 Aug, 1808- ca. 1895, born to Robert & Ann Johnston, Armagh, Co. Armagh, IRELAND.

Original tintype image captured ca. 1869 by William McConnell of Plantagenet, Ontario, CANADA.

Image restored in 2005 by Clifford A. Johnston.

Red Robin's name and a brief by-line were added at the request of a family member.

Robert "Red Robin" Johnston was born in Armagh, County Armagh, IRELAND. The immediate Irish branches of the family are said to have died off by 1910 in Ireland. Oral family history has our family leaving Scotland/Ireland for Canada because of religious persecution or the death of the father. We are descendants of William Johnstoun of Gretna and of Newbie, more specifically, his son John Johnstoun of Newbie. This connection was made via Y-DNA testing to a documented descendant of John Johnstoun of Newbie.

In Canada sometime in the late 1800s a fire consumed his home and all of its contents. I have been told by older family members that a family bible, 2 small (approximately 12" high) oil portraits, legal papers from Scotland and personal letters were all destroyed. It was a terrible loss to our family and our research efforts.

Via oral family history we know that Red Robin was 6'-5" in height. He had red hair, the basis for his nickname. He was said to have been very handsome as a young man and had a charismatic personality, much to the delight of the local women and the dismay of their boyfriends and husbands ;-) In addition we know that he enjoyed a "wee dram" at the end of the day. This caused much concern among his fellow Methodists, although we have not found any record of him in any Methodist documents in Canada. As was the custom in those parts, 2 women Methodist ministers would make the rounds in their horse-drawn carriage bringing The Word to their parishoners. They were constantly in dismay at Red Robin's custom of having his wee dram at the end of a hard day's work. As luck would have it, at the close of one particular day Red Robin was sitting outside and sipping his whisky when the ladies arrived, unannounced. One of them immediately launched into a verbal tirade telling Red Robin in no uncertain terms that he was going to go to Hell unless he gave up his drink. An ultimatum was given to him. Choose! God or the demon drink. Now, Red Robin truly loved his God, his women and his whisky, but not necessarily in that order. He made his decision on the spot and showed the women to the gate. Then he proceeded to sit down and finish his wee dram which had been so rudely interrupted.

More oral family history indicates that Robert was 6'-5" tall, Francis was 6'-3" tall, and Archibald was 6'-1" tall. Affectionatley I call them the "Wee Three". In addition, Francis, his wife Fanny and some of their deceased, infant children were buried on the family farm land. More specifically, as they had died in the winter when the ground was frozen, they were buried in the root cellar under their farm house. Red Robin, his wife Mae, and their daughter Margaret are buried alongside John McQueen, Mae's father, at Westminster Cemetery. Other Johnstons are interred at Glenburn Cemetery.

By way of Y-DNA testing we now believe that Francis "Frank" Johnston, b. 1805 in England, who farmed close to Red Robin in Upper Canada was the older brother of Archibald "Archie" Johnston, b. 1815 in Ireland. They were cousins to our Red Robin. Frank was in Upper Canada in 1826 as we found a record of his infant son, Christopher, dying in that year. The first record of Red Robin in Upper Canada is in 1833; however, he may have been there much earlier. Archibald Johnston, b. 1815 in Ireland, owned the farm adjacent to Red Robin on the south side. In early 2008 Y-DNA testing confirmed the family connection. Male descendants of all 3 are exact matches for the 67-markers Y-DNA test. Oral family history was weak on their relationship, but indicated that they were either all brothers or 2 brothers and a cousin. We have been unable to find a paper trail connection. Other siblings may have been Thomas, Janet and Catherine, but we have scanty information on them.

In Canada we have 3 families by marriage who came from Co. Derry, Ireland. Two families from that area (Anderson & Wylie) came to Upper Canada ca. 1832 and settled close to each other. Later the Derby family from the same area joined them in the 1840's. Indications are that Frank and possibly a George Johnson [sic] came over with a ship load of Methodists in 1822. Robert may have been with them. Archibald and 3 of his sisters came over with another group of Methodists in 1832. Our research efforts continue.